Detergent composition comprising clay and polysaccharide gum stabilizing agents

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to personal cleansing compositions comprising: (a) from about 1.5% to about 10% by weight of an oil dispersing nonionic surfactant; (b) from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of auxiliary surfactant selected from other nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof, (c) from about 3% to about 30% by weight of a perfume or cosmetic oil; (d) from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of a stabilizing agent; and (e) water, wherein the ratio of primary to secondary stabilizing agent is in the range of from about 32:1 to about 1:1. The cleansing products demonstrate excellent in-use efficacy benefits including excellent lather volume, stability and appearance characteristics, good skin feel during and after use, skin conditioning, mildness, stability, cleansing, good water feel and appearance and rinsibility.

This application is a 371 of PCT/US95/14047, filed Oct. 30, 1995.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cleansing compositions. In particular it relates to mild personal cleansing compositions with good skin feel attributes and foaming properties suitable for simultaneously cleansing and conditioning the skin and/or the hair and which may be used, for example, in the form of foam bath preparations, shower products, skin cleansers, hand, face and body cleansers, shampoos, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mild cosmetic compositions must satisfy a number of criteria including cleansing power, foaming properties and mildness/low irritancy/good feel with respect to the skin, hair and the ocular mucosae. Skin is made up of several layers of cells which coat and protect the keratin and collagen fibrous proteins that form the skeleton of its structure. The outermost of these layers, referred to as the stratum corneum, is known to be composed of 250 Å protein bundles surrounded by 80 Å thick layers. Hair similarly has a protective outer coating enclosing the hair fibre which is called the cuticle. Anionic surfactants can penetrate the stratum corneum membrane and the cuticle and, by delipidization destroy membrane integrity. This interference with skin and hair protective membranes can lead to a rough skin feel and eye irritation and may eventually permit the surfactant to interact with the keratin and hair proteins creating irritation and loss of barrier and water retention functions.

Ideal cosmetic cleansers should cleanse the skin or hair gently, without defatting and/or drying the hair and skin and without irritating the ocular mucosae or leaving skin taut after frequent use. Most lathering soaps, shower and bath products, shampoos and bars fail in this respect.

Certain synthetic surfactants are known to be mild. However, a major drawback of most mild synthetic surfactant systems when formulated for shampooing or personal cleansing is poor lather performance compared to the highest shampoo and bar soap standards. Thus, surfactants that are among the mildest, such as sodium lauryl glyceryl ether sulfonate, (AGS), are marginal in lather. The use of known high sudsing anionic surfactants with lather boosters, on the other hand, can yield acceptable lather volume and quality but at the expense of clinical skin mildness. These two facts make the surfactant selection, the lather and mildness benefit formulation process a delicate balancing act.

Despite the many years of research that have been expended by the toiletries industry on personal cleansing, the broad mass of consumers remain dissatisfied by the mildness of present day cleansing compositions, finding, for example, that they have to apply a separate cosmetic lotion or cream moisturizer to the skin after using a shower or bath preparation in order to maintain skin suppleness and hydration and to counteract the delipidizing effect of the cleanser.

It is known from the art that inclusion of oils in bathing compositions can provide post-use skin feel benefits. However incorporation of oils at levels sufficient to deliver consumer noticeable benefits has until now proved to be a challenge, particularly with respect to the delivery of creamy, stable good lather characteristics in the presence of oil and avoiding unpleasant `slimey`/`greasy` water feel or oily appearance during use while still delivering a desirable after-use soft skin feel. A further difficulty associated with combining high levels of oil with conventional detergent systems has been the acheivement of a stable system in which the oil can be released into the water during use It has now been found that personal cleansing compositions having excellent lather volume, stability and feel characterisitcs in combination with good skin feel attributes both for in use feel and after use feel as well as improved product stability can be formed by the use of a mixed stabilising system in combination with certain nonionic surfactants with auxiliary surfactants and dispersible oils in particular levels and ratios.

Thus a need exists for personal cleansing products which will not dehydrate the skin or result in loss of skin suppleness, which will provide a level of skin conditioning performance which previously has only been provided by a separate post-cleansing cosmetic moisturizer and which will produce a foam which is stable and of high quality both in lather volume and appearance, which are effective hair and skin cleansers, which have good in-use aesthetics, rinsibility characteristics, and which at the same time have stable product and viscosity characteristics and remain fully stable under long term and stressed temperature storage conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a mild, foam-producing cleansing product suitable for personal cleansing of the skin or hair and which may be used as foam bath and shower products, skin cleansers and shampoos etc. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a detergent, personal cleansing or cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) from about 1.5% to about 10% by weight of an oil dispersing nonionic surfactant;

(b) from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of auxiliary surfactant selected from other nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof;

(c) from about 3% to about 30% by weight of a perfume or cosmetic oil;

(d) from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of a stabilising system comprising a clay primary stabilising agent and a hetero polysaccharide gum secondary stabilising agent; and,

(e) water,

and wherein the ratio of primary to secondary stabilising agent is in the range of from about 32:1 to about 2:1.

In a highly preferred embodiment, the invention takes the form of a foam producing cleansing composition with excellent lather and stability characterisics, superior skin feel characteristics, improved perceived dryness and assessed tightness and expertly graded dryness, combined with good cleansing ability and conditioning performance.

All concentrations and ratios herein are by weight of the cleansing composition, unless otherwise specified. Surfactant chain lengths are also on a weight average chain length basis, unless otherwise specified.

The cleansing compositions herein are based on a combination of a mixed stabilising system with particular oil dispersing nonionic surfactant, perfume or cosmetic oil and mild auxiliary surfactants, which in general terms can be selected from other nonionic, anionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof. The total level of surfactant, inclusive of anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and other surfactant components is preferably from about 1.6% to about 15%, more preferably from about 2% to about 12%, and especially from about 5% to about 10% by weight. The compositions preferably comprise a mixture of oil dispersing nonionic and anionic optionally with auxiliary nonionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants. The total level of auxiliary surfactant is in the range from about 0.1% to about 10%, and especially from about 0.5% to about 5%, more preferably from about 1% to about 3.5%, most preferably from about 2% to about 3% by weight of the composition, while the level of oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is preferably from about 2% to about 9%, more preferably from about 4.5% to about 7% by weight. The weight ratio of anionic surfactant : auxiliary nonionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactant is preferably in the range of from about 8:1 to about 1:2. The ratio of auxiliary surfactant to oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is preferably in the range of from 1:100 to about 1:1, more preferably from about 1:8 to about 1:2. The preferred compositions within the scope of the invention comprise mixtures of nonionic surfactants, dispersible perfume or cosmetic oils and auxiliary anionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, wherein the level of dispersible perfume or cosmetic oil is from about 6% to about 25%, preferably from about 10% to about 20%, more preferably from about 12% to about 18% by weight of the composition and the weight ratio of oil dispersing nonionic surfactant: dispersible perfume or cosmetic oil is in the range of from 1:20 to about 3:2, preferably from about 1:6 to about 1:2, more preferably from about 1:4 to about 1:3.

Stabilising systems suitable for inclusion in the compositions according to the present invention comprise a primary and secondary stabilising agent wherein the primary stabilising agent is an optionally modified clay or clay like material and the secondary stabilsing agent is a hetero polysaccharide gum. Use of a mixed stabilising system is valuable for the delivery of lather having good volume, stability and appearance characterisitics in combination with improvements in skin feel. Applicant has found that compositions having the mixed primary/secondary stabilising systems of the present invention deliver improved lather profiles at high cosmetic oil content versus products containing either the primary or secondary stabilisers alone.

The total level of primary and secondary stabilising agent present is from about 0.01% to about 15%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 12%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 10% most preferably from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight wherein the ratio of primary stabiliser to secondary stabiliser is in the range of from about 32:1 to about 1:1, preferably from about 16:1 to about 1:1, more preferably from about 4:1 to about 2:1.

In prefered compositions according to the invention the primary stabiliser is a modified clay based material.

Suitable primary suspending agents for the compositions of the present invention include magnesium aluminium silicate (Al₂ Mg₈ Si₂), bentonite, hectorite and derivatives thereof. Magnesium aluminium silicate occurs naturally in such smectite materials as colerainite, saponite and sapphire. Refined magnesium aluminium silicate useful herein is available from the R. T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. under the trade name Veegum (RTM) and from ECC America under the trade name Gelwhite MAS-H (RTM). Modified magnesium aluminium silicate materials such as magnesium aluminium silicate mineral CMC are available from the R. T Vanderbilt Company, Inc. under the trade name Veegum Plus (RTM). This modified clay material contains smectite clay with sodium carboxymethylcellulose and titanium dioxide. Bentonite is a native hydrated colloidal aluminium silicate clay available from ECC America under the trade name Bentonite H (RTM) and from Whittaker, Clark and Daniels under the trade name Mineral Colloid BP 2430 (RTM). Hectorite is one of the montmorillonite minerals that is a principal constituent of bentonite clay. Hectorite is available from Rheox Inc. under the trade names Bentone EW (RTM) and Macaloid (RTM).

The preferred primary stabilising agent is magnesium aluminium silicate mineral CMC available from the R. T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. under the trade name Veegum Plus (RTM).

The preferred secondary stabilising agent in the compositions according to the invention is xanthan gum (xanthan/corn sugar gum) which is a heteropolysaccaride gum produced by a pure-culture fermentation of a carbohydrate with Xanthomonas campestris having a molecular weight of greater than about 1,000,000. It is believed to contain D-glucose, D-mannose and D-glucoronate in the molar ratios of 2.8: 2.0: 2.0. The polysaccharide is partially acetylated with 4.7% acetyl. This biosynthetic gum material is commercially available from Calgon under the trade name Kelgum CG (RTM) and from Kelko (a division of Merck & Co., Inc.), Meer and Vanderbilt under the respective trade names Keltrol (RTM), Merezan 8 (RTM) and Rhodigel (RTM) as well as from a variety of other sources. Xanthan gum mixtures are also available from Calgon, Alban Muller and others and are also suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the present invention. Further information on xanthan gum is to be found in Whistler, Roy L. (Editor) Industrial Gums--Polysaccharides and Their Derivatives New York: Academic Press, 1973.

Oil dispersing nonionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions according to the present invention have excellent oil dispersing characteristics as demonstrated by microscopy and Immersion tests.

To demonstrate the suitability of a nonionic surfactant for incorporation in the compositions according to the present invention a test matrix including the test nonionic and all other composition ingredients is prepared. A portion of this prototype is then viewed under a microscope using a Nikon Optipot-2 Videomicrowatcher. Surfactants suitable for incorporation in the compositions according to the present invention typically produce homogeneous (opaque) product matrices in which the oil droplets have a mean diameter in the range of from about 2 microns to about 30 microns, preferably from about 10 microns to about 20 microns.

In the Immersion Test, the in-use characteristics of prototype matrices are assessed. In essence, 6 ml of prototype matrix is dispersed in 20 liters of water at 40° C. The physical appearance of the resulting solution is then assessed. Compositions which result in turbid (cloudy) solutions wherein no oil droplets are visible to the naked eye are regarded as demonstrating the desired behaviour, providing they additionally deliver the required skin feel.

While the reasons for the skin feel benefits associated with the compositions according to the present invention are not clearly understood it is believed that the particular nonionic surfactants specified herein are able to substantially disperse a significant amount of oil into the composition matrix which leads to the skin feel advantage possibly due to the release of the oils onto the skin surface during bathing or showering.

Oil dispersing nonionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions according to the present invention are selected from C₁₂ -C₁₈ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, preferably C₁₂ -C₁₆ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, more preferably C₁₂ -C₁₄ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants having the general formula (I). ##STR1## The preferred N-alkyl, N-alkoxy or N-aryloxy, polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants according to formula (I) are those in which R⁸ is C₅ -C₃₁ hydrocarbyl, preferably C₉ -C₁₇ hydrocarbyl, including straight-chain and branched chain alkyl and alkenyl, or mixtures thereof and R9 is typically C₁ -C₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, preferably methyl, or a group of formula --R¹ --O--R² wherein R¹ is C₂ -C₈ hydrocarbyl including straight-chain, branched-chain and cyclic (including aryl), and is preferably C₂ -C₄ alkylene, R² is C₁ -C₈ straight-chain, branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbyl including aryl and oxyhydrocarbyl, and is preferably C₁ -C₄ alkyl, especially methyl, or phenyl. Z₂ is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 2 (inc the case of glyceraldehyde) or at least 3 hydroxyls (in the case of other reducing sugars) directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. Z₂ preferably will be derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction, most preferably Z₂ is a glycityl moiety. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, as well as glyceraldehyde. As raw materials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup can be utilized as well as the individual sugars listed above. These corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components for Z₂. It should be understood that it is by no means intended to exclude other suitable raw materials. Z₂ preferably will be selected from the group consisting of --CH₂ --(CHOH)_(n) --CH₂ OH, --CH(CH₂ OH)-(CHOH)_(n-1) --CH₂ H, CH₂ (CHOH)₂ (CHOR')CHOH)--CH₂ OH, where n is an integer from 1 to 5, inclusive, and R' is H or a cyclic mono- or poly-saccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. As noted, most preferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly --CH₂ -(CHOH)₄ -CH₂ OH.

In compounds of the above formula, R₈ --CO--N< can be, for example, cocoamide, stearamide, oleamide, lauramide, myristamide, capricamide, palmiamide, tallowamide, etc.

A preferred process for making the above compounds having formula (I) comprises reacting a fatty acid triglyceride with an N-substituted polyhydroxy amine in the substantial absence of lower (C₁ -C₄) alcoholic solvent, but preferably with an alkoxylated alcohol or alkoxylated alkyl phenol such as NEODOL and using an alkoxide catalyst at temperatures of from about 50° C. to about 140° C. to provide high yields (90-98%) of the desired products.

The most preferred polyhydroxy fatty acid amide has the formula R₈ (CO)N(CH₃)CH₂ (CHOH)₄ CH₂ OH wherein R₈ is a C11-C17 straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group.

The compositions of the invention additionally include a dispersible perfume or cosmetic oil or a mixture thereof at levels of from about 3% to about 30%, preferably from about 6% to about 25%, more preferably from about 12% to about 18% by weight. Addition of such oils or waxes can provide emolliency, mildness and rinsibility characteristics to personal cleansing compositions according to the invention. It is a feature of the invention, however, that such oil based compositions have excellent in-use and post-use skin feel in combination with good emolliency and mildness together with desirable physical attributes possibly due to the release of the oil components into the cleansing water. Physically, preferred compositions of this type take the form of an opaque solution which becomes turbid upon dispersion in water. In compositions according to the invention including a perfume or cosmetic oil, preferably the weight ratio of nonionic surfactant to oil is from about 1:20 to about 3:2, more preferably from about 1:6 to about 1:2 and especially from about 1:4 to about 1:3.

Suitable cosmetic oils for use herein can be selected from water-insoluble silicones inclusive of non-volatile polyalkyl and polyaryl siloxane gums and fluids, volatile cyclic and linear polyalkylsiloxanes, polyalkoxylated silicones, amino and quaternary ammonium modified silicones, rigid cross-linked and reinforced silicones and mixtures thereof, C₁ -C₂₄ esters of C₈ -C₃₀ fatty acids such as isopropyl myristate and cetyl ricinoleate, beeswax, saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols such as behenyl alcohol, hydrocarbons such as mineral oils, petrolatum and squalene, fatty sorbitan esters (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,255, Seiden, issued Oct. 26, 1976), lanolin and oil-like lanolin derivatives, animal and vegetable triglycerides such as almond oil, peanut oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricot pits, walnuts, palm nuts, pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, rapeseed, cade oil, corn oil, peach pit oil, poppyseed oil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower seed oil, and C₁ -C₂₄ esters of dimer and trimer acids such as diisopropyl dimerate, diisostearylmalate, diisostearyldimerate and triisostearyltrimerate and mixtures thereof.

The most preferred perfume or cosmetic oil is mineral oil.

Anionic surfactants suitable for inclusion in the compositions of the invention can generally be described as mild synthetic detergent surfactants and include ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, methyl acyl taurates, fatty acyl glycinates, N-acyl glutamates, acyl isethionates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alpha-sulfonated fatty acids, their salts and/or their esters, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, alkyl phosphate esters, ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, acyl sarcosinates and fatty acid/protein condensates, and mixtures thereof. Alkyl and/or acyl chain lengths for these surfactants are C₈ -C₂₂, preferably C₁₀ -C₁₈.

Preferred for use herein from the viewpoint of optimum mildness and lathering characteristics are the salts of sulfuric acid esters of the reaction product of 1 mole of a higher fatty alcohol and from about 1 to about 12 moles of ethylene oxide, with sodium and magnesium being the preferred counterions. Particularly preferred are the alkyl sulfates containing from about 2 to 6, preferably 2 to 4 moles of ethylene oxide, such as sodium laureth-2 sulfate, sodium laureth-3 sulfate and magnesium sodium laureth-3.6 sulfate. In preferred embodiments, the anionic surfactant contains at least about 50%, especially at least about 75% by weight of ethoxylated alkyl sulfate.

The compositions for use herein suitably also contain an amphoteric surfactant. Amphoteric surfactants suitable for use in the compositions of the invention include:

(a) imidazolinium surfactants of formula (II) ##STR2## wherein R₁ is C₇ -C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₂ is hydrogen or CH₂ Z, each Z is independently CO₂ M or CH₂ CO₂ M, and M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium; and/or ammonium derivatives of formula ##STR3## wherein R₁, R₂ and Z are as defined above; (b) aminoalkanoates of formula (IV)

    R.sub.1 NH(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 M

and iminodialkanoates of formula (V)

    R.sub.1 N[(CH.sub.2).sub.m CO.sub.2 M].sub.2

wherein n and m are numbers from 1 to 4, and R₁ and M are independently selected from the groups specified above; and

(c) mixtures thereof.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (a) are marketed under the trade name Miranol and Empigen and are understood to comprise a complex mixture of species. Traditionally, the Miranols have been described as having the general formula II, although the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 4th Edition indicates the non-cyclic structure III. In practice, a complex mixture of cyclic and non-cyclic species is likely to exist and both definitions are given here for sake of completeness. Preferred for use herein, however, are the non-cyclic species.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (a) include compounds of formula II and/or III in which R₁ is C₈ H₁₇ (especially isocapryl), C₉ H₁₉ and C₁₁ H₂₃ alkyl. Especially preferred are the compounds in which R₁ is C₉ H₁₉, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is H; the compounds in which R₁ is C₁₁ H₂₃, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is CH₂ CO₂ M; and the compounds in which R₁ is C₁₁ H₂₃, Z is CO₂ M and R₂ is H.

In CTFA nomenclature, materials preferred for use in the present invention include cocoamphocarboxypropionate, cocoamphocarboxy propionic acid, and especially cocoamphoacetate and cocoamphodiacetate (otherwise referred to as cocoamphocarboxyglycinate). Specific commercial products include those sold under the trade names of Empigen CDL60 and CDR 60 (Albright & Wilson), Miranol H2M Conc. Miranol C2M Conc. N. P., Miranol C2M Conc. O. P., Miranol C2M SF, Miranol CM Special (Rhone-Poulenc); Alkateric 2CIB (Alkaril Chemicals); Amphoterge W-2 (Lonza, Inc.); Monateric CDX-38, Monateric CSH-32 (Mona Industries); Rewoteric AM-2C (Rewo Chemical Group); and Schercotic MS-2 (Scher Chemicals).

It will be understood that a number of commercially-available amphoteric surfactants of this type are manufactured and sold in the form of electroneutral complexes with, for example, hydroxide counterions or with anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactants, especially those of the sulfated C₈ -C₁₈ alcohol, C₈ -C₁₈ ethoxylated alcohol or C₈ -C₁₈ acyl glyceride types. Preferred from the viewpoint of mildness and product stability, however, are compositions which are essentially free of (non-ethoxylated) sulfated alcohol surfactants. Note also that the concentrations and weight ratios of the amphoteric surfactants are based herein on the uncomplexed forms of the surfactants, any anionic surfactant counterions being considered as part of the overall anionic surfactant component content.

Examples of suitable amphoteric surfactants of type (b) include salts, especially the triethanolammonium salts and salts of N-lauryl-beta-amino propionic acid and N-lauryl-imino-dipropionic acid. Such materials are sold under the trade name Deriphat by Henkel and Mirataine by Rhone-Poulenc. Amphoterics preferred for use herein, however, are those of formula II and/or III.

The compositions of the invention may also include auxiliary nonionic surfactant. Suitable auxiliary nonionic surfactants for use herein can be selected from C₁₂ -C₁₄ fatty acid mono-and diethanolamides and sucrose polyester surfactants, water soluble vegetable and animal-derived emollients (oil derived) such as triglycerides with a polyglycol chain inserted; ethoxylated mono and di-glycerides, polyethoxylated lanolins and shea butter derivatives and mixtures thereof. One preferred class of oil-derived auxiliary nonionic surfactants for use herein have the general formula (VI) ##STR4## wherein n is from about 5 to about 200, preferably from about 20 to about 100, more preferably from about 30 to about 85, and wherein R comprises an aliphatic radical having on average from about 5 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 9 to 18 carbon atoms.

Suitable ethoxylated oils and fats of this class include polyethyleneglycol derivatives of glyceryl cocoate, glyceryl caproate, glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl tallowate, glyceryl palmate, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl laurate, glyceryl oleate, glyceryl ricinoleate, and glyceryl fatty esters derived from triglycerides, such as palm oil, almond oil, and corn oil, preferably glyceryl tallowate and glyceryl cocoate.

Suitable oil derived auxiliary nonionic surfactants of this class are available from Croda Inc. (New York, USA) under their Crovol line of materials such as Crovol EP40 (PEG 20 evening primrose glyceride), Crovol EP 70 (PEG 60 evening primrose glyceride) Crovol A-40 (PEG 20 almond glyceride), Crovol A-70 (PEG 60 almond glyceride), Crovol M-40 (PEG 20 maize glyceride), Crovol M-70 (PEG 60 maize glyceride), Crovol PK-40 (PEG 12 palm kernel glyceride), and Crovol PK-70 (PEG 45 palm kernel glyceride) and under their Solan range of materials such as Solan E, E50 and X polyethoxylated lanolins. Further suitable surfactants of this class are commercially available from Sherex Chemical Co. (Dublin, Ohio, USA) under their Varonic LI line of surfactants. These include, for example, Varonic LI 48 (polyethylene glycol (n=80) glyceryl tallowate, alternatively referred to as PEG 80 glyceryl tallowate), Varonic LI 2 (PEG 28 glyceryl tallowate), Varonic LI 420 (PEG 200 glyceryl tallowate), and Varonic LI 63 and 67 (PEG 30 and PEG 80 glyceryl cocoates). Other water soluble vegetable-derived emollients suitable for use are PEG derivatives of corn, avocado and babassu oil.

Also suitable for use herein are auxiliary nonionic surfactants derived from composite vegetable fats extracted from the fruit of the Shea Tree (Butyrospermum Karkii Kotschy) and derivatives thereof. This vegetable fat, known as Shea Butter is widely used in Central Africa for a variety of means such as soap making and as a barrier cream, it is marketed by Sederma (78610 Le Perray En Yvelines, France). Also of interest are ethoxylated derivatives of Shea butter available from Karlshamn Chemical Co. (Columbos, Ohio, USA) under their Lipex range of chemicals, such as Lipex 102 E-75 (ethoxylated mono, di-glycerides of Shea butter) and from Croda Inc. (New York) under their Crovol line of materials, such as Crovol SB70 (RTM) (ethoxylated-Shea butter). Similarly, ethoxylated derivatives of Mango, Cocoa and Illipe butter may be used in compositions according to the invention. Although these are classified as ethoxylated nonionic surfactants it is understood that a certain proportion may remain as non-ethoxylated vegetable oil or fat.

Other suitable oil-derived nonionic surfactants include ethoxylated derivatives of almond oil, peanut oil, wheat germ oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, oil of apricot pits, walnuts, palm nuts, pistachio nuts, sesame seeds, rapeseed, cade oil, corn oil, peach pit oil, poppyseed oil, pine oil, castor oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower seed oil.

Oil derived auxiliary nonionic surfactants highly preferred for use herein from the viewpoint of optimum mildness and skin feel characteristics are PEG 60 evening primrose triglycerides; PEG 55 lanolin polyethoxylated derivatives and ethoxylated derivatives of Shea butter.

The compositions herein preferably also contain a zwitterionic surfactant.

Betaine surfactants suitable for inclusion in the composition of the invention include alkyl betaines of the formula R₅ R₆ R₇ N⁺ (CH₂)_(n) M (VII) and amido betaines of the formula (VIII) ##STR5## wherein R₅ is C₁₂ -C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₆ and R₇ are independently C₁ -C₃ alkyl, M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium, and n, m are each numbers from 1 to 4. Preferred betaines include cocoamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine, laurylamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethyl betaine and Tego betaine.

The compositions of the invention may also contain a cationic or nonionic polymeric skin or hair conditioning agent at a level from about 0.01% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.04% to about 2% and especially from about 0.05% to about 1%. The polymer is found to be valuable for enhancing the creaminess and quality of the foam as well as providing a hair or skin conditioning utility.

Suitable polymers are high molecular weight materials (mass-average molecular weight determined, for instance, by light scattering, being generally from about 2,000 to about 3,000,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about 1,000,000).

Useful polymers are the cationic, nonionic, amphoteric, and anionic polymers useful in the cosmetic field. Preferred are cationic and nonionic polymers used in the cosmetic fields as hair or skin conditioning agents.

Representative classes of polymers include cationic and nonionic polysaccharides; cationic and nonionic homopolymers and copolymers derived from acrylic and/or methacrylic acid; cationic and nonionic cellulose resins; cationic copolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylic acid; cationic homopolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride; cationic polyalkylene and ethoxypolyalkylene imines; quaternized silicones, and mixtures thereof.

By way of exemplification, cationic polymers suitable for use herein include cationic guar gums such as hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium guar gum (d.s. of from 0.11 to 0.22) available commercially under the trade names Jaguar C-14-S(RTM) and Jaguar C-17(RTM) and also Jaguar C-16(RTM), which contains hydroxypropyl substituents (d.s. of from 0.8-1.1) in addition to the above-specified cationic groups, and quaternized cellulose ethers available commercially under the trade names Ucare Polymer JR and Celquat. Other suitable cationic polymers are homopolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride available commercially under the trade name Merquat 100, copolymers of dimethyl aminoethylmethacrylate and acrylamide, copolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylamide, available commercially under the trade names Merquat 550 and Merquat S, quaternized vinyl pyrrolidone acrylate or methacrylate copolymers of amino alcohol available commercially under the trade name Gafquat, and polyalkyleneimines such as polyethylenimine and ethoxylated polyethylenimine.

Nonionic polymers suitable for use in the compositions according to the present invention include any conventioally used nonionic polymer and preferably those of the Pluronic and Synperonic group of polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers available from BASF, such as Pluronic L-121 and ICI, such as synperonic PE-F127.

Anionic polymers suitable herein include hydrophobically-modified cross-linked polymers of acrylic acid having amphipathic properties as marketed by B F Goodrich under the trade name Pemulen TRI and Pemulen TR2; and the carboxyvinyl polymers sold by B F Goodrich under the trade mark Carbopol and which consist of polymers of acrylic acid cross-linked with polyallyl sucrose or polyallyl pentaeyrthritol, for example, Carbopol 934, 940 and 950.

The viscosity of the final composition (Brookfield RVT, Spindle 4, 20 rpm, 25° C., neat) is preferably at least about 500 cps, more preferably from about 1,000 to about 10,000 cps, especially from about 2,000 to about 6,000 cps.

The cleansing compositions can optionally include a hair or skin moisturizer which is soluble in the cleansing composition matrix. The preferred level of moisturizer is from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight. In preferred embodiments, the moisturizer is selected from:

1. water-soluble liquid polyols;

2. essential amino acid compounds found naturally occurring in the stratum corneum of the skin; and

3. water-soluble nonpolyol nonocclusives and mixtures thereof.

Some examples of more preferred nonocclusive moisturizers are glycerine, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol ethers of methyl glucose (e.g. methyl glucam-20), polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol ethers of lanolin alcohol (e.g. Solulan-75), sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, lactic acid, urea, L-proline, guanidine, pyrrolidone, hydrolyzed protein and other collagen-derived proteins, aloe vera gel and acetamide MEA and mixtures thereof. Of the above, glycerine is highly preferred.

A number of additional optional materials can be added to the cleansing compositions. Such materials include proteins and polypeptides and derivatives thereof; water- solubilizable preservatives such as DMDM Hydantoin, Germall 115, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters of hydroxybenzoic acid, EDTA, Euxyl (RTM) K400, Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and 2-phenoxyethanol; other moisturizing agents such as hyaluronic acid, chitin and starch-grafted sodium polyacrylates such as Sanwet (RTM) IM- 1000, IM- 1500 and IM-2500 available from Celanese Superabsorbent Materials, Portsmith, VA, USA and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,663; solvents such as hexylene glycol and propylene glycol; anti-bacterial agents such as Oxeco (phenoxy isopropanol); low temperature phase modifiers such as ammonium ion sources (e.g. NH₄ Cl); viscosity control agents such as magnesium sulfate, citrate salts and other electrolytes; colouring agents; pearlescers and opacifiers such as styrene PVP polymers such as Lytron 631 (RTM), TiO₂ and TiO₂ -coated mica; perfumes and perfume solubilizers; and zeolites such as Valfour BV400 and derivatives thereof and Ca²⁺ /Mg²⁺ sequestrants such as polycarboxylates, amino polycarboxylates, polyphosphates, polyphosphonates, amino polyphosphonates and gluconates etc and pH adjusting agents such as citric acid and salts thereof. Water is also present at a level preferably of from about 35% to about 95.4% preferably at least about 50% by weight of the compositions herein.

The pH of the compositions is preferably from about 4 to about 8.

The invention is illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

In the examples, all concentrations are on a 100% active basis and the abbreviations have the following designation:

    ______________________________________                                         GA       Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of formula I in which R.sub.8                       is C.sub.11 --C.sub.17  alkyl, R.sub.9  is methyl, and Z.sub.2                is                                                                      CH.sub.2 (CHOH).sub.4 CH.sub.2 OH                                             Anionic Sodium laureth-2 sulfate                                               Amphoteric Empigen CDL 60 - an aqueous mixture of 23.5%                         cocoamphoacetate (in which R.sub.1  is coconut alkyl, R.sub.2  is                      H, and Z is CO.sub.2 Na) and 1.35% cocoamphodiacetate (in                      which R.sub.1  is coconut alkyl, R.sub.2  is CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2               Na and Z is                                                              CO.sub.2 Na).                                                                 Betaine Cocoamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine                            Oil Mineral Oil                                                                Solan Solan (RTM) E (PEG 55 lanolin)                                           Shea Hydrosoluble Shea Butter (PEG 75)                                         Preservative DMDM Hydantoin                                                    Stabiliser 1 MGAl silicate CMC (Veegum Plus (RTM))                             Stabiliser 2 Xanthan Gum                                                     ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLES I TO VII

The following are personal cleansing compositions in the form of shower gel or bath foam products and which are representative of the present invention:

    ______________________________________                                         I           II      III    IV    V     VI   VII                                ______________________________________                                         GA      2.0     5.0     6.0  4.0   9.0   6.0  5.0                                Anionic 4.0 2.0 1.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 1.5                                            Amphoteric --  2.0 -- -- -- -- 0.5                                             Betaine 0.5 0.5 1.0 -- -- 0.5 0.5                                              Oil 10.0  15.0  18.0  16.0  30.0  12.0  12.0                                   Solan 0.5 0.5 -- -- -- -- --                                                   Shea -- -- -- 0.5 -- -- --                                                     Stabiliser 1 0.8 1.6 4.0 0.3 1.6 2.0 0.2                                       Stabiliser 2  0.025 0.1 0.5  0.075  0.05 1.0  0.01                             Perfume 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5                                            Preservative  0.15  0.15  0.15  0.15  0.15 0.2 0.2                           Water   to 100                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Compositions I to VII are prepared by first hydration of the primary stabilising agent by stirring with water at ambient temperature followed by addition of the secondary stabilising agent with continued stirring and hydration and then addition of the mineral oil. Separately, the anionic surfactant is hydrated by mixing with water and heating to between about 20° C. and about 50° C. Next the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is added with further with stirring and the mixture is cooled to between about 20° C. and 40° C. and then added to the stirred mix of stabilising agents. The combined mixture is stirred and cooled to ambient temperature and the remaining water, preservatives, perfilme and other materials are added.

Finally, the compositions have a viscosity (Brookfield RVT, Spindle 4, 20 rpm, 25° C., neat) in the range from 1,000 to 10,000 cps.

The products provide excellent in-use and efficacy benefits including excellent lather volume and stability characterisitcs, good skin feel during and after use, skin conditioning, mildness, stability, cleansing, good water-feel and appearance and rinsibility. 

I claim:
 1. A personal cleansing composition comprising:(a) from about 1.5% to about 10% by weight of an oil dispersing nonionic surfactant; (b) from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of auxiliary surfactant selected from other nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants and mixtures thereof; (c) from about 3% to about 30% by weight of a perfume or cosmetic oil; (d) from about 0.01% to about 15% by weight of a stabilizing system comprising a clay primary stabilizing agent and a hetero polysaccharide gum secondary stabilizing agent; (e) from about 0.01% to about 5% of a polvoxvethvlene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer conditioning agent; and (f) waterwherein the ratio of primary to secondary stabilizing agent is in the range of from about 32:1 to about 1:1.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition has a viscosity (Brookfield RVT, Spindle 4, 20 rpm, 25° C., neat) in the range from about 1,000 to about 10,000 cps.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is selected from C₁₂ -C₁₈ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants having the general formula (I); ##STR6## wherein R₉ is C₁₋₄ alkyl, and R₈ is C₇ -C₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixture thereof; and Z₂ is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative thereof.
 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is a polyhydroxy fatty acid amidehaving the formula R₈ (CO)N(CH₃)CH₂ (CHOH)₄ CH₂ OH wherein R₈ is a C₁₁ -C₁₇ straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is a C₁₂ -C₁₄ polyhydroxy fatty acid amide.
 6. The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 2% to about 9%, preferably from about 4.5% to about 7% by weight of the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant.
 7. The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 6% to about 25% by weight of perfume or cosmetic oil wherein the perfume or cosmetic oil is dispersible in the oil dispersing nonionic surfactant.
 8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic oil is selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble silicones and modified silicones, amino and quaternary ammonium modified silicones, rigid cross-linked and reinforced silicones and mixtures thereof, C₁ -C₂₄ esters of C₈ -C₃₀ fatty acids, saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, fatty sorbitan esters, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, animal and vegetable triglycerides and C₁ -C₂₄ esters of dimer and trimer acids and mixtures thereof.
 9. The composition the group consisting of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic oil is mineral oil.
 10. The composition claim 1 wherein the ratio of oil dispersing nonionic surfactant:perfume or cosmetic oil is in the range from about 1:20 to about 3:2.
 11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of primary to secondary stabilising agent is from about 16:1 to about 1:1.
 12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the total level of stabilising agents is from about 0.05% to about 12% by weight.
 13. The composition of claim 1 wherein the primary stabilising agent is a magnesium aluminium silicate based clay material.
 14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the secondary stabilising agent is xanthan gum.
 15. The composition of claim 1 comprising a mixture of oil dispersing nonionic, anionic and optionally other nonionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactants together with mineral oil.
 16. The composition of claim 1, comprising from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight in total of auxiliary surfactant.
 17. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of auxiliary surfactant to oil dispersing nonionic surfactant is in the range of from 1:100 to about 1:11.
 18. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, methyl acyl taurates, fatty acyl glycinates, alkyl ethoxy carboxylates, N-acyl glutamates, acyl isethionates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alpha-sulfonated fatty acids, their salts and/or their esters, alkyl phosphate esters, ethoxylated alkyl phosphate esters, acyl sarcosinates and fatty acid/protein condensates, and mixtures thereof.
 19. The composition of claim 1 wherein the anionic surfactant comprises an ethoxylated C₈ -C₂₂ alkyl sulfate.
 20. The composition of claim 1 wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of:(a) imidazolinium derivatives of formula (II) ##STR7## wherein R₁ is C₇ -C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, R₂ is hydrogen or CH₂ Z, each Z is independently CO₂ M or CH₂ CO₂ M, and M is H, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or alkanolammonium; and/or ammonium derivatives of formula (III) ##STR8## wherein R₁, R₂ and Z are as defined above: (b) aminoalkanoates of formula (IV)

    R.sub.1 NH(CH.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 M

and iminodialkanoates of formula (V)

    R.sub.1 N[(CH.sub.2).sub.m CO.sub.2 M].sub.2

wherein n and m are numbers from 1 to 4, and R₁ and M are independently selected from the groups specified in (a) above; and (c) mixtures thereof.
 21. The composition of claim 20 wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from the imidazolinium derivatives of formula II and/or ammonium derivatives of formula III.
 22. The composition claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant:other nonionic, zwitterionic and/or amphoteric surfactant is in the range from about 1:2 to about 6:1.
 23. The composition of claim 1 additionally comprising from 0.01% to 5%, by weight of a cationic or nonionic polymeric skin or hair conditioning agent, selected from the group consisting of cationic and nonionic polysaccharides; cationic and nonionic homopolymers and copolymers derived from acrylic and/or methacrylic acid, cationic and nonionic cellulose resins; cationic copolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride and acrylic acid; cationic homopolymers of dimethyldiallylammonium chloride; cationic polyalkylene and ethoxypolyalkylene imines; quaternized silicones, and mixtures thereof.
 24. The composition of claim 1 additionally comprising moisturiser selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol ethers of methyl glucose, sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, lactic acid, L-proline and mixtures thereof. 